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^74 AKCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



finally abandoned, as his weight (near that of an ox) would break 

 through the treacherous ice around the island where we were. It 



BEAK-HUNT — " TAPPING THE JUGDLAK." 



was then decided that the Esquimaux should skin the animal on 

 the spot, quarter it, and thus carry it piecemeal to the ship. Ac- 

 cordingly, we left them to the task, and had not long been back 

 to our cabins when the prize arrived, the carcass still smoking 

 hot, though the skin was already frozen stiff. 



I should mention that, as soon as the bear was discovered, 

 Ebierbing hastened after it with his dogs, which were regularly 

 trained to keep bears in check until rifles and spears should ar- 

 rive. The dogs which I had brought from Greenland never had 

 been " educated" for bear fights, therefore they seemed to act upon 

 the principle that " distance lends enchantment to the view" by 

 getting upon the most distant and highest part of the island on 

 which the bear was killed. 



As regards the use made of our prize, I have only to say that 

 we divided it with the Esquimaux, and had a capital dinner of a 

 portion of our share. I liked it better than the best of beefsteaks. 



A day or two after this bear-hunt I paid another visit to North 

 Star village, accompanied by Ebierbing, who took me direct to 

 his tupic. After passing on all-fours through the low snow-pas- 

 sage which he had made, leading to the interior, I found myself 



